Question

which assessment would the nurse use to identify the possible origin of the problem when an adolescent who has been tardy to school twice in the past week comes to the school nurse complaining of a 2 - day history of low - grade fever, exhaustion, lack of energy, and decreased appetite?
○ eliciting the kernig sign
○ eliciting the brudzinski sign
○ checking for lymphadenopathy
○ checking the pupillary response to light and accommodation

Explanation:

• Eliciting the Kernig sign: This is a test for meningeal irritation (e.g., meningitis). Symptoms would likely include neck stiffness, severe headache, and photophobia in addition to fever. The adolescent's symptoms (low - grade fever, exhaustion, lack of energy, decreased appetite) are more non - specific and not strongly indicative of meningeal irritation.
• Eliciting the Brudzinski sign: Another test for meningeal irritation. Similar to the Kernig sign, the adolescent's symptoms do not strongly suggest meningeal irritation.
• Checking for lymphadenopathy: Lymphadenopathy (enlarged lymph nodes) can be a sign of an underlying infection (viral or bacterial). Adolescents are prone to infectious mononucleosis (caused by Epstein - Barr virus), which can present with low - grade fever, fatigue, lack of energy, decreased appetite, and lymphadenopathy.
• Checking the pupillary response to light and accommodation: This is a neurological assessment related to cranial nerve function (e.g., oculomotor nerve). The adolescent's symptoms are not primarily neurological in nature (no mention of visual disturbances, double vision, etc.).

Answer:

Checking for lymphadenopathy.